The Nominative Case in Russian: Functions and Usage

The Nominative Case is one of the most fundamental and frequently used cases in the Russian language. It is primarily used to indicate the subject of a sentence—the person, place, or thing performing the action. Understanding the nominative case is essential for constructing simple sentences and is the starting point for learning Russian grammar.
In this article, we will delve into the functions, forms, and usage of the nominative case, providing you with clear examples and helpful tables.
1. Function of the Nominative Case
The main function of the nominative case is to mark the subject of the sentence—the doer of the action or the one being described. It answers the questions:
- «Who?» (Кто?)
- «What?» (Что?)
Examples:
- Мальчик играет в футбол.
(The boy is playing football.)- Мальчик (boy) is the subject, in the nominative case.
- Книга интересная.
(The book is interesting.)- Книга (book) is the subject, in the nominative case.
2. Nouns in the Nominative Case
In the nominative case, the form of the noun depends on its gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), and whether it is singular or plural. Let’s break it down by gender and number.
Masculine Nouns (Singular)
For masculine nouns, the nominative case is usually the base form, and the noun typically ends in a consonant or -й.
Singular (Masculine) | Translation |
---|---|
Стол | Table |
Мальчик | Boy |
Учитель | Teacher (male) |
Друг | Friend (male) |
Feminine Nouns (Singular)
For feminine nouns, the nominative case ends in -а or -я. These are typical for feminine nouns in Russian.
Singular (Feminine) | Translation |
---|---|
Книга | Book |
Девочка | Girl |
Учительница | Teacher (female) |
Мать | Mother |
Neuter Nouns (Singular)
For neuter nouns, the nominative case usually ends in -о or -е.
Singular (Neuter) | Translation |
---|---|
Окно | Window |
Мороз | Frost |
Молоко | Milk |
Письмо | Letter |
Plural Nouns (All Genders)
In the plural form, masculine, feminine, and neuter nouns all take the same ending -ы or -и, depending on the final letter in the singular form. Typically, -ы follows hard consonants, while -и follows soft consonants, -й, and -ь.
Plural (All Genders) | Translation |
---|---|
Столы | Tables |
Книги | Books |
Окна | Windows |
Дети | Children |
3. Adjectives in the Nominative Case
Just like nouns, adjectives must agree in gender, number, and case with the nouns they modify. In the nominative case, adjectives take different forms depending on the gender and number of the noun they describe.
Masculine Adjectives (Singular)
Adjective | Noun | Translation |
---|---|---|
Хороший | Стол (Table) | Good table |
Красивый | Мальчик (Boy) | Handsome boy |
Feminine Adjectives (Singular)
Adjective | Noun | Translation |
---|---|---|
Хорошая | Книга (Book) | Good book |
Красивую | Девочка (Girl) | Beautiful girl |
Plural Adjectives (All Genders)
Adjective | Noun | Translation |
---|---|---|
Хорошие | Столы (Tables) | Good tables |
Красивые | Книги (Books) | Beautiful books |
4. Pronouns in the Nominative Case
Pronouns, like nouns, also change their form depending on the case. In the nominative case, pronouns are used to replace nouns as the subject of the sentence.
Pronoun | Translation |
---|---|
Я | I |
Ты | You (informal) |
Он | He |
Она | She |
Оно | It (neuter) |
Мы | We |
Вы | You (formal/plural) |
Они | They |
Example sentences:
- Я читаю книгу. (I am reading a book.)
- Она идет в магазин. (She is going to the store.)
5. Common Errors in the Nominative Case
While the nominative case is one of the easiest to use, learners can still make mistakes. Here are some common pitfalls:
- Confusing gender: It’s easy to mix up masculine, feminine, and neuter forms, especially when the noun’s ending isn’t obvious.
- Incorrect plural endings: Pay attention to the distinction between -ы and -и for plural forms based on the final consonant in the singular.
- Misusing pronouns: Ensure that pronouns in the nominative case match the subject of the sentence.
6. Conclusion
The nominative case is foundational to understanding Russian sentence structure. It’s used for the subject of a sentence, and its form depends on gender, number, and the type of noun. By mastering the nominative case, learners can start constructing basic sentences, making it one of the first steps in learning Russian grammar.